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Unusual Fear


Guest dray1965

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Guest dray1965

Hi,

 

Some of you might remember me. I had Mya (who died of a brain tumor/cancer last Sept), then I was fostering Hix who I couldn't get to go in my car without extra help and always slept by my front door and virtually ignored me (he is in a house now with a yard). Now, I have Bailey. I've had him for nearly 3 months now. He is a wonderful 6 yr old baby. He's a perfect angel and has had no problems til this past Tuesday. I live in condo which has no fenced yard for him to play in - all my dogs are leashed walked. We've had our usual route to the same area I've walked my other dogs to do their business and there's been no problem, until Tuesday. When I cam home for lunch that day, I got him "suited up" with his harness, muzzle (so he can't eat whatever he finds) and leash. We got almost all the way down the sidewalk to the back side of the complex and then he became intensely interested in something on the sidewalk, sniffed the air, then ran around in a blind panic in every direction. I sorta got him calmed down, but he really didn't want to stay so we headed up - he pulled me all the way home (which he never pulls me anywhere). I thought it would be a one time thing, I was wrong. Since that time, he's only gone back there (unwillingly) 2 or 3 times and will not stay and will not do his business, most of the time if I can get him back there, he stands around next to me and shakes. Nothing has changed in that area, and he's not had any bad experiences. No one was back there that day either. Now, I've found other areas, but if I try to approach the backside from even a different angle, he turns around as soon as he sees where we're headed. Whatever the issue is seems to be smell related. None of the other dog owners have had this experience with their owners. Oh, the other thing about that day once we got home, I got him inside and unleashed, he ran into the bedroom and shook and shook, then he went very cautiously towards all the windows. I need a pet psychic I think! Anyone have any ideas? How can I change his fear if I don't know what caused it? I'm really baffled!

 

Thanks,

Debbie

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Does your neighborhood have buried power lines?

 

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Might poke around there by yourself a little and see if you can figure it out. Could be something beyond our inferior human senses tho.

 

My Zema Does Not Like lawns with the buried, automatic sprinkler systems and will freak out if you try to make her walk on some of them. Not all, just some. I suspect there's a little vibration or leaky valve noise that she doesn't like.

 

Until you can figure it out, I probably wouldn't push it beyond seeing if, in a week or so, he'll go maybe one step beyond what he went before, "good boy!" and treat, then *you* turn the two of you around and leave. And gradually inch closer.

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Since he was sniffing the air, could the grass have been sprayed or fertilized when you weren't around? If a liquid fertilizer was used you may not see any trace of it, but the Greyhound nose may be overly sensitive to it. Just a thought since it's time for that in many places.

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Guest dray1965

Does your neighborhood have buried power lines?

 

You bring up a very interesting subject. There are buried cable lines, not sure of power lines. Hadn't thought of that possibility. They've always been there, was some work done there, but before he even came to leave with me. But, now I wonder if something changed with some of the cabling and maybe he senses that. I'm still working on the mystery. Tonight I just walked him he almost made it all the way down the sidewalk before he turned to go home. It's been raining all afternoon so I'm hoping the rain my clear the air of any scent that is aggravating him. Thanks for the idea, it's possible.

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I'll go back to my old standby - greys are quirky. Something bugged him - something you didn't see or smell or hear. Probably something very minor - but he noticed it, and it stuck in his head.

 

SO - as in all things greyhound, approach that areaa again, in moderation. Get close to there - and give a treat. Walk away. Get a smidge closer the next day, give a treat, walk away. Desensitize slowy, in manageable steps that don't cause panic, until the "bad" association" is gone. And you've replaced it with a "good" association - a treat.

 

It could've been something as simple as a blowing leaf that startled him. Or a scent of garbage that disturbed him. It's probably something you'll never understand. Proceed with confidence, in a happy manner, don't push him too far, too fast (because in his mind it's "real") and he'll probably work through it. I do believe that dogs get "spooked" about stuff that our paltry human senses don't pick up on - but - I don't buy into all of them. Work the dog through it. Be the leader - don't force anything - reward the smallest step then back off and try again tomorrow to push the boundry just a little bit more - with rewards! But always proceed with a happy, confidant attitude. :)

 

The WORST thing that you can do - is act all concerned and worried. Dogs want a LEADER - not a nanny. Generally - if you tell them it's okay - and you ACT like it's Okay - they'll BELIEVE that it's OKAY!

Edited by sobesmom
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